Private Tour at the Chemical Analysis Facility

Lecturers from the Department of Chemistry at Reading University were so impressed with the presentation given by our pupils Niamh, Hattie, Esme and Amna as part of the Heroines of Science competition, that they were invited back for a private tour of the analytical facilities!

In their talk they explained how Dorothy Hodgkin had used X-Ray crystallography to identify the structure of penicillin amongst other work. On 4 May the group were able to see an X-Ray crystallography machine in action, mount crystals for analysis and gain a good understanding of how the process works. They were discussing concepts that would not usually be met until degree level!

The group were also given a personal tour around the Chemical Analysis Facility. This facility is not only used by the Chemistry department, but also by archaeologists, forensic scientists and more. They learnt about Infrared Spectroscopy, Mass Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - techniques they may encounter as part of their A Level studies. Many pupils only get this opportunity once at University, so the group felt very privileged and were truly inspired by what they saw.